C07K2319/75—Fusion polypeptide containing domain for protein-protein interaction containing a fusion for binding to a cell surface receptor containing a fusion for activation of a cell surface receptor, e.g. thrombopoeitin, NPY and other peptide hormones

Abstract

New chimeric proteins, DNA encoding the same, and the use of these proteins in stimulating immunity against respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, including shipping fever pneumonia, are disclosed. The chimeric proteins include at least one epitope of leukotoxin fused to an active fragment of a cytokine. The chimeric proteins can be used in a vaccine composition. Also disclosed are methods of vaccination as well as methods of making the proteins employed in the vaccines.

Description

INTE LEUKIN-2-LEUKOTOXIN

GENE FUSIONS AND USES THEREOF

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to subunit antigens, vaccine compositions, and methods of administering the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an interleu in-2-leukotoxin gene fusion product and the use of the same for stimulating immunity against pneumonia.

Calves are the most severely affected, and a large number of these calves die. This disease is associated with pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Pasteurallae spe¬ cies, and various stresses, such as transportation and overcrowding.

Shipping fever is the most economically important respiratory disease associated with Pasteurella species. The disease is characterized by sudden onset, usually within two weeks of stress. The symptoms include dyspnea, cough, ocular and nasal discharge, inappetence and rapid weight loss, fever, increased lung sounds, immunosuppression, general depression, viral and/or bacterial infection of the lungs. Various bacteria and viruses have been isolated from affected animals
including Pasteurella spp.. bovine herpes virus 1, parainfluenza-3 virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and Mvcoplasma species. The disease typically affects 15-30% of exposed animals and the resulting deaths are typically 2-5% of the exposed population.

Exposure of the animal to stress, plus infec¬ tion with a variety of viruses, as described above, ap¬ pears to make the animal susceptible to fibrinous pneumonia caused by Pj. haemolytica. and to a lesser extent, Pasteurella multocida. For a general background on shipping fever see Yates, .D.G. (1982) Can. J. Comp. Med. 41:225-263.

P. haemolytica also causes enzootic pneumonia and can infect a wide range of animals, in addition to cattle, including economically important species such as sheep, swine, horses and fowl. P^. haemolytica is also frequently found in the upper respiratory tract of healthy animals. Pneumonia develops when the bacteria infects the lungs of these animals. Protection against Pasteurella-associated diseases is therefore economically important to the agricultural industry.

There are two known biotypes of P^. haemolytica designated A and T. There are also 12 recognized serotypes which have been isolated from ruminants. Biotype A, serotype 1 (referred to hereinafter as "Al") predominates in bovine pneumonia in North America. Shewen, P.E., and ilkie, B.N. (1983) Am. J. Vet. Res. 44.:715-719. However, antigens isolated from different serotypes appear to be somewhat cross-reactive. See. e.σ.. Donanchie et al. (1984) J. Gen. Micro. 130:1209-1216.

Previous Pasteurellosis vaccines have utilized whole cell preparations of either live or heat killed
bacteria of various serotypes as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,328,210, 4,171,354, 3,328,252, 4,167,560 and 4,346,074. Traditional vaccine preparations, however, have not been effective in protecting against Pasteurella infections. Indeed, vaccinated animals are frequently more susceptible to the disease than their non-vaccinated counterparts. Martin et al. (1980) Can. J. Comp. Med. 44.-■1-10. The lack of protection offered by traditional vaccines is probably due to the absence of important antigens, virulence determinants, or the presence of immunosuppressive components in the preparations.

Gene fusions provide a convenient method for the production of chimeric proteins. The expression of chimeric proteins, such as a cytokine linked to an antigenic polypeptide, allows the simultaneous delivery
of both agents to a desired recipient. PCT Publication No. WO 88/00971 (publication date of 11 February 1988) describes the fusion of an IL2 gene with the influenza hemagglutinin coding sequence and the subsequent administration of the fusion protein using a viral vector. The application nowhere contemplates the use of a cytokine fused to leukotoxin for the treatment of pneumonia in animals.

10

Disclosure of the Invention

The present invention is based on the construction of a novel gene fusion between the sequence encoding bovine IL2 and the P_s_ haemolytica leukotoxin

15 gene. These constructs produce a fusion protein that can be used to protect cattle and other animals from respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, including shipping fever pneumonia.

In one embodiment, the present invention is

__ directed to a DNA construct comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding a cytokine, or an active fragment thereof, operably linked to a second nucleotide sequence encoding at least one epitope of leukotoxin. In particularly preferred embodiments, the first nucleotide

__ sequence encodes IL2, or an active fragment thereof.

In another embodiment, the subject invention is directed to expression cassettes comprised of (a) the DNA constructs above and (b) control sequences that direct the transcription of the construct whereby the constructs can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

5
In another embodiment, the invention is directed to host cells transformed with these expression cassettes. 5 Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of producing a recombinant polypeptide comprising (a) providing a population of host cells described above and (b) growing the population of cells under conditions whereby the polypeptide encoded by the expression _ cassette is expressed.

In still another embodiment, the invention is directed to an immunogenic chimeric protein comprising a cytokine, or an active fragment thereof, linked to at least one epitope of leukotoxin. In particularly -5 preferred embodiments, the cytokine is derived from bovine IL2.

Also disclosed are vaccine compositions comprising the chimeric proteins and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and methods of vaccinating a subject -_ using the same.

These and other embodiments of the present invention will readily occur to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein.

In describing the present invention, the following terms will be employed, and are intended to be defined as indicated below.

By "cytokine" is meant any one of the group of hormone-like mediators produced by T and B lymphocytes. Representative cytokines include but are not limited to IL1, IL2, IL3, IL4 and gamma-IFN. An "active" fragment of a cytokine is a fragment of a cytokine which imparts proliferative activity to the subject fusion proteins as measured in standard assays, such as the cell proliferation assay described in the experimental section below.

An "antigen" refers to a molecule containing one or more epitopes that will stimulate a host's immune system to make a humoral and/or cellular antigen-specific response. The term is also used interchangeably with "immunogen."

A "hapten" is a molecule containing one or more epitopes that does not stimulate a host's immune system to make a humoral or cellular response unless linked to a carrier. The term "epitope" refers to the site on an antigen or hapten to which a specific antibody molecule binds. The term is also used interchangeably with "antigenic determinant" or "antigenic determinant site." An "immunological response" to a composition or vaccine is the development in the host of a cellular and/ or antibody-mediated immune response to the composition or vaccine of interest. Usually, such a response consists of the subject producing antibodies, B cells, helper T cells, suppressor T cells, and/or cytotoxic T
cells directed specifically to an antigen or antigens included in the composition or vaccine of interest.

An "immunogenic polypeptide" or "immunogenic amino acid sequence" is a polypeptide or amino acid sequence, respectively, which elicits an immunological response in a subject to which it is administered.

The term "protein" is used herein to designate a naturally occurring polypeptide. The term "polypeptide" is used in its broadest sense, i.e., any polymer of amino acids (dipeptide or greater) linked through peptide bonds. Thus, the term "polypeptide" includes proteins, oligopeptides, protein fragments, analogs, muteins, fusion proteins and the like.

"Native" proteins or polypeptides refer to proteins or polypeptides recovered from a source occurring in nature. Thus, the term "native leukotoxin" would include naturally occurring leukotoxin and fragments thereof. "Recombinant" polypeptides refer to polypeptides produced by recombinant DNA techniques; i.e., produced from cells transformed by an exogenous DNA construct encoding the desired polypeptide. "Synthetic" polypeptides are those prepared by chemical synthesis. A "rotavirus VP6 protein" refers to the art- recognized major viral protein of the inner capsid from any species or strain within the family Reoviridae. See. e.g.. Kapikian et al., 1985. Examples of rotavirus strains from which the VP6 protein can be isolated and employed in the present invention include, but are not limited to. Simian SA-11, human D rotavirus, bovine UK rotavirus, human Wa or W rotavirus, human DS-l rotavirus, rhesus rotavirus, the "O" agent, bovine NCDV rotavirus, human S2 rotavirus, human KUN rotavirus, human 390
rotavirus, human P rotavirus, human M rotavirus, human Walk 57/14 rotavirus, human Mo rotavirus, human Ito rotavirus, human Nemoto rotavirus, human YO rotavirus, human McM2 rotavirus, rhesus monkey MMU18006 rotavirus, canine CU-1 rotavirus, feline Taka rotavirus, equine H-2 rotavirus, human St. Thomas No. 3 and No. 4 rotaviruses, human Hosokawa rotavirus, human Hochi rotavirus, porcine SB-2 rotavirus, porcine Gottfried rotavirus, porcine SB-1A rotavirus, porcine OSU rotavirus, equine H-l rotavirus, chicken Ch.2 rotavirus, turkey Ty.l rotavirus, bovine C486 rotavirus, and strains derived from them. Thus the present invention encompasses the use of VP6 from any rotavirus strain, whether from subgroup I, subgroup II, or any as yet unidentified subgroup, as well as from any of the serotypes 1-7, as well as any as yet unidentified serotypes. Such VP6 proteins can be used as immunologic carriers of polypeptides. These carrier molecules comprise amino acid sequences of rotavirus VP6 amino acid sequences which are unique to the class, or any member of the class, of VP6 polypeptides. Such unique sequences of VP6 proteins are referred to as a "rotavirus VP6 inner capsid protein amino acid sequence." A carrier that is "substantially homologous to a rotavirus VP6 inner capsid protein or a functional fragment thereof" is one in which at least about 85%, preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95%, of the amino acids match over a defined length of the molecule. A "functional fragment" of a rotavirus VP6 inner capsid protein is a fragment with the capability of acting as a carrier molecule for the novel chimeric proteins of the instant invention.

A "replicon" is any genetic element (e.g., plasmid, chromosome, virus) that functions as an
autonomous unit of DNA replication in vivo; i.e., capable of replication under its own control.

A "vector" is a replicon, such as a plasmid, phage, r cos id, to which another DNA segment may be at¬ tached so as to bring about the replication of the at¬ tached segment.

A "double-stranded DNA molecule" refers to the polymeric form of deoxyribonucleotides (bases adenine, guanine, thymine, or cytosine) in a double-stranded helix, both relaxed and supercoiled. This term refers only to the primary and secondary structure of the molecule, and does not limit it to any particular tertiary forms. Thus, this term includes double-stranded DNA found, inter alia, in linear DNA molecules (e.g., restriction fragments) , viruses, plasmids, and chromosomes. In discussing the structure of particular double-stranded DNA molecules, sequences may be described herein according to the normal convention of giving only the sequence in the 5• to 3' direction along the nontranscribed strand of DNA (i.e., the strand having the sequence homologous to the mRNA) .

A DNA "coding sequence" or a "nucleotide sequence encoding" a particular protein, is a DNA seque- ^e which is transcribed and translated into a polypeptide in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5* (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3' (carboxy) terminus. A coding sequence can include, but is r ". limited to, procaryotic sequences, cDNA from

mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from eucaryotic (e.g., mammalian) DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences.
A transcription termination sequence will usually be located 3' to the coding sequence.

A "promoter sequence" is a DNA regulatory region capable of binding RNA polymerase in a cell and initiating transcription of a downstream (3' direction) coding sequence. For purposes of defining the present invention, the promoter sequence is bound at the 3• terminus by the translation start codon (ATG) of a coding sequence and extends upstream (5' direction) to include the minimum number of bases or elements necessary to initiate transcription at levels detectable above background. Within the promoter sequence will be found a transcription initiation site (conveniently defined by mapping with nuclease SI) , as well as protein binding domains (consensus sequences) responsible for the binding of RNA polymerase. Eucaryotic promoters will often, but not always, contain "TATA" boxes and "CAT" boxes. Procaryotic promoters contain Shine-Dalgarno sequences in addition to the -10 and -35 consensus sequences.

A coding sequence is "operably linked to" another coding sequence when RNA polymerase will transcribe the two coding sequences into mRNA, which is then translated into a chimeric polypeptide encoded by the two coding sequences. The coding sequences need not be contiguous to one another so long as the transcribed
sequence is ultimately processed to produce the desired chimeric protein.

A control sequence "directs the transcription" of a coding sequence in a cell when RNA polymerase will bind the promoter sequence and transcribe the coding sequence into mRNA, which is then translated into the polypeptide encoded by the coding sequence.

A "host cell" is a cell which has been transformed, or is capable of transformation, by an exogenous DNA sequence.

A cell has been "transformed" by exogenous DNA when such exogenous DNA has been introduced inside the cell membrane. Exogenous DNA may or may not be integrated (covalently linked) to chromosomal DNA making up the genome of the cell. In procaryotes and yeasts, for example, the exogenous DNA may be maintained on an episomal element, such as a plasmid. With respect to eucaryotic cells, a stably transformed cell is one in which the exogenous DNA has become integrated into the chromosome so that it is inherited by daughter cells through chromosome replication. This stability is demonstrated by the ability of the eucaryotic cell to establish cell lines or clones comprised of a population of daughter cell containing the exogenous DNA.

A "clone" is a population of cells derived from a single cell or common ancestor by mitosis. A "cell line" is a clone of a primary cell that is capable of stable growth in vitro for many generations.

Two DNA or polypeptide sequences are "substantially homologous" when at least about 80% (preferably at least about 90%, and most preferably at least about 95%) of the nucleotides or amino acids match over a defined length of the molecule. DNA sequences
that are substantially homologous can be identified in a Southern hybridization experiment under, for example, stringent conditions, as defined for that particular system. Defining appropriate hybridization conditions is within the skill of the art. See, e.g.. Sambrook et al., supra; DNA Cloning, vols I & II, supra; Nucleic Acid Hybridization. supra.

The term "functionally equivalent" intends that the amino acid sequence of the subject fusion protein is one that will elicit an immunological response, as defined above, equivalent to an immunogenic IL2-LKT chimeric protein.

A "heterologous" region of a DNA construct is an identifiable segment of DNA within or attached to another DNA molecule that is not found in association with the other molecule in nature. Thus, when the heterologous region encodes a bacterial gene, the gene will usually be flanked by DNA that does not flank the bacterial gene in the genome of the source bacteria.

Another example of the heterologous coding sequence is a construct where the coding sequence itself is not found in nature (e.g., synthetic sequences having codons different from the native gene) . Allelic variation or naturally occurring mutational events do not give rise to a heterologous region of DNA, as used herein.

A composition containing A is "substantially free of" B when at least about 85% by weight of the total of A + B in the composition is A. Preferably, A comprises at least about 90% by weight of the total of A + B in the composition, more preferably at least about 95%, or even 99% by weight.

The term "treatment" as used herein refers to either (i) the prevention of infection or reinfection
(prophylaxis) , or (ii) the reduction or elimination of symptoms or the disease of interest (therapy) .

B. General Methods

Central to the instant invention is the production of a chimeric protein comprising a cytokine and a £ haemolytica leukotoxin. This chimeric protein can be used in a vaccine composition to protect animals against respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, including shipping fever pneumonia.

Actively growing cells of P^. haemolytica have been shown to secrete leukotoxin which can be cloned, the gene encoding the same isolated, and fused with a gene encoding an appropriate cytokine, using techniques well known in the art. The resulting chimeric proteins can be expressed and used to immunize subjects against shipping fever.

The nucleotide sequence coding for P. haemolytica Al leukotoxin has been determined. See. e.g.. Lo, R.Y.C. (1987) Infect. Imroun. £5:1987-1996. Of interest is the fact that the P_j_ haemolytica leukotoxin gene and the corresponding protein share extensive homology with Escherichia coli alpha hemolysin (50.3% of the amino acid residues are identical) . Strathdee, CA. , and Lo, R.Y.C. (1987) 1^ ect. Immun. 55.:3233-3236. P. haemolytica leukotoxin can be produced using recombinant techniques and purified from, for example, bacterial cells. The leukotoxin can also be purified from native bacteria using immunoadsorbent chromatography. The molecular weight of the purified leukotoxin is approxi¬ mately 95,000 and the isoelectric point is 6.3.

Purification of the above proteins as described herein permits the sequencing of the same by any of the various methods known to those skilled in the art. For example, the amino acid sequences of the subject proteins can be determined from the purified proteins by repetitive cycles of Edman degradation, followed by amino acid analysis by HPLC. Other methods of amino acid sequencing are also known in the art. Furthermore, fragments of the proteins can be tested for biological activity and active fragments used in compositions in lieu of the entire protein.

Once the amino acid sequences are determined, oligonucleotide probes which contain the codons for a portion of the determined amino acid sequences can be prepared and used to screen DNA libraries for genes encoding the subject proteins. The basic strategies for preparing oligonucleotide probes and DNA libraries, as well as their screening by nucleic acid hybridization, are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. See, e.g. f DNA Cloning: Vol. I, supra; Nucleic Acid Hybridization. supra; Oligonucleotide Synthesis, supra; T. Maniatis et al. , supra.

First, a DNA library is prepared. The library can consist of a genomic DNA library from P^. haemolytica (for the isolation of the leukotoxin gene) or from appropriate T cells (for the isolation of the desired cytokine gene) . Once the library is constructed, oligonucleotides to probe the library are prepared and used to isolate the gene encoding the desired protein.
The oligonucleotides are synthesized by any appropriate method. The particular nucleotide sequences selected are chosen so as to correspond to the codons encoding a known amino acid sequence from the desired protein. Since the genetic code is degenerate, it will often be necessary to synthesize several oligonucleotides to cover all, or a reasonable number, of the possible nucleotide sequences which encode a particular region of the protein. Thus, it is generally preferred in selecting a region upon which to base the probes, that the region not contain amino acids whose codons are highly degenerate. In certain circumstances, one of skill in the art may find it desirable to prepare probes that are fairly long, and/or encompass regions of the amino acid sequence which would have a high degree of redundancy in corresponding nucleic acid sequences, particularly if this lengthy and/or redundant region is highly characteristic of the protein of interest. It may also be desirable to use two probes (or sets of probes) , each to different regions of the gene, in a single hybridization experiment. Automated oligonucleotide synthesis has made the prepara¬ tion of large families of probes relatively straight¬ forward. While the exact length of the probe employed is not critical, generally it is recognized in the art that probes from about 14 to about 20 base pairs are usually effective. Longer probes of about 25 to about 60 base pairs are also used.

The selected oligonucleotide probes are labeled with a marker, such as a radionucleotide or biotin using standard procedures. The labeled set of probes is then used in the screening step, which consists of allowing the single-stranded probe to hybridize to isolated ssDNA from the library, according to standard techniques.
Either stringent or permissive hybridization conditions could be appropriate, depending upon several factors, such as the length of the probe and whether the probe is 5 derived from the same species as the library, or an evolutionarily close or distant species. The selection of the appropriate conditions is within the skill of the art. See, generally. Nucleic Acid hybridization, supra. The basic requirement is that hybridization conditions be 0 of sufficient stringency so that selective hybridization occurs; i.e., hybridization is due to a sufficient degree of nucleic acid homology (e.g., at least about 75%), as opposed to nonspecific binding. Once a clone from the screened library has been identified by positive

15 hybridization, it can be confirmed by restriction enzyme analysis and DNA sequencing that the particular library insert contains a gene for the desired protein.

Alternatively, DNA sequences encoding the proteins of interest can be prepared synthetically rather

- - than cloned. The DNA sequence can be designed with the appropriate codons for the particular amino acid sequence. In general, one will select preferred codons for the intended host if the sequence will be used for expression. The complete sequence is assembled from

30 Once coding sequences for the desired proteins have been prepared or isolated, they can be cloned into any suitable vector or replicon. Numerous cloning vectors are known to those of skill in the art, and the selection of an appropriate cloning vector is a matter of

Suitable restriction enzymes can then be employed to isolate the appropriate cytokine gene or leukotoxin gene and these sequences can be ligated together and cloned to form a cytokine-leukotoxin fusion gene.

The fusion gene can be placed under the control of a promoter, ribosome binding site (for bacterial expression) and, optionally, an operator (collectively referred to herein as "control" elements) , so that the DNA sequence encoding the chimeric protein is transcribed into RNA in the host cell transformed by a vector containing this expression construction. The coding sequence may or may not contain a signal peptide or leader sequence. The chimeric proteins of the present invention can be expresse: using, for example, native P. haemolytica promoter, the JjL. coli tac promoter or the protein A gene (spa) promoter and signal sequence. Leader sequences can be removed by the bacterial host in post-translational processing. See, e.g.. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,431,739; 4,425,437; 4,338,397.
In addition to control sequences, it may be desirable to add regulatory sequences which allow for regulation of the expression of the protein sequences relative to the growth of the host cell. Regulatory sequences are known to those of skill in the art, and examples include those which cause the expression of a gene to be turned on or off in response to a chemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regula- tory compound. Other types of regulatory elements may also be present in the vector, for example, enhancer sequences.

An expression vector is constructed so that the particular fusion coding sequence is located in the vector with the appropriate regulatory sequences, the positioning and orientation of the coding sequence with respect to the control sequences being such that the coding sequence is transcribed under the "control" of the control sequences (i.e., RNA polymerase which binds to the DNA molecule at the control sequences transcribes the coding sequence) . Modification of the sequences encoding the particular chimeric protein of interest may be desirable to achieve this end. For example, in some cases it may be necessary to modify the sequence so that it may be attached to the control sequences with the ap¬ propriate orientation; i.e., to maintain the reading frame. The control sequences and other regulatory sequences may be ligated to the coding sequence prior to insertion into a vector, such as the cloning vectors described above. Alternatively, the coding sequence can be cloned directly into an expression vector which already contains the control sequences and an appropriate restriction site.
In some cases, it may be desirable to add sequences which cause the secretion of the polypeptide from the host organism, with subsequent cleavage of the secretory signal. It may also be desirable to produce mutants or analogs of the chimeric proteins of interest. Mutants or analogs may be prepared by the deletion of a portion of the sequence encoding the protein, by insertion of a sequence, and/or by substitution of one or more nucleotides within the sequence. Techniques for modifying nucleotide sequences, such as site-directed mutagenesis, are well known to those skilled in the art. See, e.g.. T. Maniatis et al., supra; DNA Cloning. Vols. I and II, supra; Nucleic Acid Hybridization, supra. A number of procaryotic expression vectors are known in the art. See, e.g.. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,440,859; 4,436,815; 4,431,740; 4,431,739; 4,428,941; 4,425,437; 4,418,149; 4,411,994; 4,366,246; 4,342,832; see also U.K. Patent Applications GB 2,121,054; GB 2,008,123; GB 2,007,675; and European Patent Application 103,395.

Yeast expression vectors are also known in the art. See. e.g.. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,446,235; 4,443,539; 4,430,428; see also European Patent Applications 103,409; 100,561; 96,491.

Depending on the expression system and host selected, the proteins of the present invention are produced by growing host cells transformed by an expres¬ sion vector described above under conditions whereby the protein of interest is expressed. The chimeric protein is then isolated from the host cells and purified. If the expression system secretes the protein into growth media, the protein can be purified directly from the media. If the protein is not secreted, it is isolated from cell lysates. The selection of the appropriate
growth conditions and recovery methods are within the skill of the art.

An alternative method to identify proteins of the present invention is by constructing gene libraries, using the resulting clones to transform E . coli and pooling and screening individual colonies using polyclonal serum or monoclonal antibodies to the desired antigen. The chimeric proteins of the present invention may also be produced by chemical synthesis such as solid phase peptide synthesis, using known amino acid sequences or amino acid sequences derived from the DNA sequence of the genes of interest. Such methods are known to those skilled in the art. Chemical synthesis of peptides may be preferable if a small fragment of the antigen in question is capable of raising an immunological response in the subject of interest.

The proteins of the present invention or their fragments can be used to produce antibodies, both polyclonal and monoclonal. If polyclonal antibodies are desired, a selected mammal, (e.g., mouse, rabbit, goat, horse, etc.) is immunized with an antigen of the present invention, or its fragment, or a mutated antigen. Serum from the immunized animal is collected and treated according to known procedures. If serum containing polyclonal antibodies is used, the polyclonal antibodies can be purified by immunoaffinity chromatography, using known procedures.

Monoclonal antibodies to the proteins of the present invention, and to the fragments thereof, can also be readily produced by one skilled in the art. The general methodology for making monoclonal antibodies by hybridomas is well known. Immortal antibody-producing
cell lines can be created by cell fusion, and also by other techniques such as direct transformation of B lymphocytes with oncogenic DNA, or transfection with 5 Epstein-Barr virus. See, e.g.. M. Schreier et al., Hybridoma Technioues (1980); Hammerling et al.. Monoclonal Antibodies and T-cell Hvbridomas (1981) ; Kennett et al.. Monoclonal Antibodies (1980); see also U.S. Patent Nos. 4,341,761; 4,399,121; 4,427,783; lfJ 4,444,887; 4,452,570; 4,466,917; 4,472,500, 4,491,632; and 4,493,890. Panels of monoclonal antibodies produced against the antigen of interest, or fragment thereof, can be screened for various properties; i.e., for isotype, epitope, affinity, etc. Monoclonal antibodies

15 are useful in purification, using immunoaffinity techniques, of the individual antigens which they are directed against.

Animals can be immunized with the compositions of the present invention by administration of the

20 chimeric protein, or a fragment thereof, or an analog thereof. The chimeric protein can consist of an epitope of leukotoxin fused to an active fragment of a cytokine, as defined above. Thus, if the fragment or analog of the fusion protein is used, it will include the amino acid

25 sequence of an epitope of leukotoxin which interacts with the immune system to immunize the animal to that and structurally similar epitopes, and an active fragment of a cytokine as defined above.

Chimeric proteins used to immunize a subject

_0 contain at least 6-30 amino acids which form the sequence of the desired chimeric protein, and include a leukotoxin epitope and an active cytokine fragment.

Prior to immunization, it may be desirable to increase the immunogenicity of the particular chimeric

35
protein, or an analog of the protein, or particularly fragments of the protein. This can be accomplished in any one of several ways known to those of skill in the art. For example, the antigenic peptide may be administered linked to a carrier. For example, a fragment may be conjugated with a macromolecular carrier. Suitable carriers are typically large, slowly metabolized macromolecules such as: proteins; polysaccharides, such as sepharose, agarose, cellulose, cellulose beads and the like; polymeric amino acids such as polyglutamic acid, polylysine, and the like; amino acid copolymers; and in¬ active virus particles. Especially useful protein substrates are serum albumins, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, immunoglobulin molecules, thyroglobulin, ovalbumin, and other proteins well known to those skilled in the art.

The protein substrates may be used in their na¬ tive form or their functional group content may be modified by, for example, succinylation of lysine residues or reaction with Cys-thiolactone. A sulfhydryl group may also be incorporated into the carrier (or antigen) by, for example, reaction of amino functions with 2-iminothiolane or the N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 3-(4-dithiopyridyl propionate. Suitable carriers may also be modified to incorporate spacer arms (such as hexamethylene dia ine or other bifunctional molecules of similar size) for attachment of peptides.

Other suitable carriers for the chimeric proteins of the present invention include VP6 polypeptides of rotaviruses, or functional fragments thereof, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 092,120, filed September 2, 1989, and incorporated herein by reference. Also useful is a fusion product of a viral protein and the subject cytokine-leukotoxin
im unogen made by methods disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,722,840. Still other suitable carriers include cells, such as lymphocytes, since presentation in this form mim¬ ics the natural mode of presentation in the subject, which gives rise to the immunized state. Alternatively, the fusion proteins of the present invention may be coupled to erythrocytes, preferably the subject's own erythrocytes. Methods of coupling peptides to proteins or cells are known to those of skill in the art.

The novel chimeric proteins of the instant invention can also be administered via a carrier virus which expresses the same. Carrier viruses which will find use with the instant invention include but are not limited to the vaccinia and other pox viruses, adenovirus, and herpes virus. By way of example, vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the novel chimeric proteins can be constructed as follows. The DNA encoding the particular cytokine-leukotoxin chimeric protein is first inserted into an appropriate vector so that it is adjacent to a vaccinia promoter and flanking vaccinia DNA sequences, such as the sequence encoding thymidine kinase (TK) . This vector is then used to transfect cells which are simultaneously infected with vaccinia. Homologous recombination serves to insert the vaccinia promoter plus the gene encoding the instant chimeric protein into the viral genome. The resulting TK~recombinant can be selected by culturing the cells in the presence of 5- bromodeoxyuridine and picking viral plaques resistant thereto.

It is also ! ossible to immunize a subject with a protein of the present invention, or a protective fragment thereof, or an analog thereof, which is administered alone, or mixed with a pharmaceutically
acceptable vehicle or excipient. Typically, vaccines are prepared as injectables, either as liquid solutions or suspensions; solid forms suitable for solution in, or suspension in, liquid vehicles prior to injection may also be prepared. The preparation may also be emulsi¬ fied or the active ingredient encapsulated in liposome vehicles. The active immunogenic ingredient is often mixed with vehicles containing excipients which are pharmaceutically acceptable and compatible with the ac¬ tive ingredient. Suitable vehicles are, for example, water, saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol, or the like, and combinations thereof. In addition, if desired, the vehicle may contain minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering agents, or adjuvants which enhance the effectiveness of the vaccine. Adjuvants may include for example, muramyl dipeptides, avridine, aluminum hydroxide, oils, saponins and other substances known in the art. Actual methods of preparing such dosage forms are known, or will be appar¬ ent, to those skilled in the art. See, e.g.. Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pennsylvania, 15th edition, 1975. The composition or formulation to be administered will, in any event, contain a quantity of the protein adequate to achieve the desired immunized state in the individual being treated.

Additional vaccine formulations which are suit¬ able for other modes of administration include sup¬ positories and, in some cases, aerosol, intranasal, oral formulations, and sustained release formulations. For suppositories, the vehicle composition will include traditional binders and carriers, such as, polyalkaline glycols, or triglycerides. Such suppositories may be formed from mixtures containing the active ingredient in
the range of about 0.5% to about 10% (w/w) , preferably about 1% to about 2%. Oral vehicles include such normally employed excipients as, for example, pharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium, stearate, sodium saccharin cellulose, magnesium carbonate, and the like. These oral vaccine compositions may be taken in the form of solutions, suspensions, tablets, pills, capsules, sustained release formulations, or powders, and contain from about 10% to about 95% of the active ingredient, preferably about 25% to about 70%.

Intranasal formulations will usually include vehicles that neither cause irritation to the nasal mucosa nor significantly disturb ciliary function.

Diluents such as water, aqueous saline or other known substances can be employed with the subject invention. The nasal formulations may also contain preservatives such as, but not limited to, chlorobutanol and benzalkonium chloride. A surfactant may be present to enhance absorption of the subject proteins by the nasal mucosa.

Controlled or sustained release formulations are made by incorporating the chimeric protein into carriers or vehicles such as liposomes, nonresorbable impermeable polymers such as ethylenevinyl acetate copolymers and Hytrel® copolymers, swellable polymers such as hydrogels, or resorbable polymers such as collagen and certain polyacids or polyesters such as those used to make resorbable sutures. The chimeric proteins can also be delivered using implanted mini- pumps, well known in the art.

Furthermore, the chimeric proteins (or complexes thereof) may be formulated into vaccine
de¬

compositions in either neutral or salt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include the acid addi¬ tion salts (formed with the free amino groups of the ac- tive polypeptides) and which are formed with inorganic acids such as, for example, hydrochloric or phosphoric acids, or such organic acids as acetic, oxalic, tartaric, mandelic, and the like. Salts formed from free carboxyl groups may also be derived from inorganic bases such as, for example, sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, or ferric hydroxides, and such organic bases as isopropylamine, trimethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, procaine, and the like.

To immunize a subject, the polypeptide of interest, or an immunologically active fragment thereof, is administered parenterally, usually by intramuscular injection in an appropriate vehicle. Other modes of administration, however, such as subcutaneous, intravenous injection and intranasal delivery, are also acceptable. Injectable vaccine formulations will contain an effective amount of the active ingredient in a vehicle, the exact amount being readily determined by one skilled in the art. The active ingredient may typically range from about 1% to about 95% (w/w) of the composition, or even higher or lower if appropriate. The quantity to be administered depends on the animal to be treated, the capacity of the animal's immune system to synthesize antibodies, and the degree of protection desired. With the present vaccine formulations, 50 ug of active ingredient per ml of injected solution should be adequate to raise an immunological response when a dose of 1 to 5 ml per animal is administered. Other effective dosages can be readily established by one of ordinary skill in the art through routine trials establishing dose
response curves. The subject is immunized by administration of the particular antigen or fragment thereof, or analog thereof, in at least one dose, and preferably two doses. Moreover, the animal may be administered as many doses as is required to maintain a state of immunity to pneumonia.

Below are examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the present invention. The examples are of¬ fered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

Deposits of Strains Useful in Practicing the Invention A deposit of biologically pure cultures of the following strains was made with the American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland. The accession number indicated was assigned after successful viability testing, and the requisite fees were paid. Access to said cultures will be available during pendency of the patent application to one determined by the Commissioner to be entitled thereto under 37 CFR 1.14 and 35 USC 122. All restriction on availability of said cultures to the public will be irrevocably removed upon the granting of a patent based upon the application. Moreover, the designated deposits will be maintained for a period of thirty (30) years from the date of deposit, or for five (5) years after the last request for the deposit; or for the enforceable life of the U.S. patent, whichever is longer. Should a culture become nonviable or be inadvertently destroyed, or, in the case of plasmid-containing strains, lose its plasmid, it will be replaced with a viable culture(s) of the same taxonomic description.
Strain Deposit Date ATCC No.

Materials and Methods Enzymes were purchased from commercial sources, and used according to the manufacturers' directions. Radionucleotides and nitrocellulose filters were also purchased from commercial sources.

In the cloning of DNA fragments, except where noted, all DNA manipulations were done according to standard procedures. See Sambrook et al. , supra. Restriction enzymes, T. DNA ligase, EL. coli. DNA polymerase I, Klenow fragment, and other biological reagents were purchased from commercial suppliers and used according to the manufacturers' directions. Double- stranded DNA fragments were separated on agarose gels. cDNA and genomic libraries were prepared by standard techniques in pUC13 and the bacteriophage lambda gtll, respectively. See DNA CLONING: Vols I and II, supra.

P. haemolytica biotype A, serotype 1 ("Al") strain B122 was isolated from the lung of a calf which died of pneumonic pasteurellosis and was stored at -70°C in defibrinated blood. Routine propagation was carried out on blood agar plates or in brain heart infusion broth (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI) supplemented with 5% (v/v) horse serum (Gibco Canada Ltd., Burlington, Canada) . All cultures were incubated at 37°C.
Example 1 Construction of an L2-leukotoxin Gene Fusion

1. Modification of the Bovine IL2 Gene

The bovine IL2 gene, in the plasmid pBOVIL2, (CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland) was digested to completion with the restriction endonuclease Bell and the single-stranded ends removed by Mung Bean nuclease treatment. The DNA was then digested with EcoRI in order to excise the IL2 gene fragment. This fragment was ligated into the cloning vector pTZ19R (Pharmacia, Canada) (EcoRI/Smal-digested) . Sequence analysis revealed two populations of clones which differed only in the reading frame at the 3•-end of the gene. The first, pAA284, had a terminal sequence of 5'-TCA ACA ATG ACT GGG ATC CTC-3 ' (BamHI site in vector underlined) while the second, pAA285, had a terminal sequence of 5--TCA ACA ATG ACT GGG GAT CCT-3• . The sequences shown in bold face are from the IL2 gene. Because of the differences in reading frame, heterologous genes in two out of three reading frames can be fused to the bovine IL2 gene.

2. Construction of IL2-LKT Fusions

To isolate the leukotoxin gene, gene libraries of _t. haemolytica Al (strain B122) were constructed using standard techniques. See Lo et al.. Infect. Immun.. supra; DNA CLONING: Vols. I and II. supra; and T. MANIATIS et al., supra. A genomic library was constructed in the plasmid vector pUC13 and a DNA library constructed in the bacteriophage lambda gtll. The resulting clones were used to transform EL. coli and individual colonies were pooled and screened for reaction with serum frϋ... a calf which had survived a I .
haemolytica infection and that had been boosted with a concentrated culture supernatant of P_j_ haemolytica to increase anti-leukotoxin antibody levels. Positive colonies were screened for their ability to produce leukotoxin by incubating cell lysates with bovine neutrophils and subsequently measuring release of lactate dehydrogenase from the latter.

Several positive colonies were identified and these recombinants were analyzed by restriction endonuclease mapping. One clone appeared to be identical to a leukotoxin gene cloned previously. See Lo et al.. Infect. Immun.. supra. To confirm this, smaller fragments were recloned and the restriction maps compared. It was determined that approximately 4 kilobase pairs of DNA had been cloned. Progressively larger clones were isolated by carrying out a chromosome walk (5* to 3' direction) in order to isolate full-length recombinants which were approximately 8 kb in length. The final construct was termed pAA114. This construct contained the entire leukotoxin gene sequence. The structure of this plasmid is shown in Figure 1.

IktA, a Mael restriction endonuclease fragment from pAA114 which contained the entire leukotoxin gene, was treated with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I plus nucleotide triphosphates and ligated into the Smal site of the cloning vector pUC13. This plasmid was named pAA179. From this, an expression construct was made in the ptac-based vector pGH432: lad digested with Smal. _ This construct was termed pAA345 and contained the entire Mael fragment described above. This plasmid expresses full-length leukotoxin.

The plasmid pAA345 containing the P. haemolytica leukotoxin gene IktA was digested with BamHI 5
and Bglll, and the 2.75 kilobase fragment was ligated into BamHI-digested pAA285 (above) . The resulting plasmid, pAA354, was digested with ApaLI, the 5'-overhang filled in with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, and finally digested with BamHI. The IL2-LKT fragment was gel purified and ligated into the expression vector pGH433 lad which had been cut with Bglll, filled in with Klenow polymerse and digested with BamHI. The resulting clone, pAA356 (ATCC No. 68386) , contained the desired gene fusion under the control of the E coli tac promoter. Figure 2 shows the structure of pAA356 while Figure 3 shows the nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acid sequence of the fusion protein expressed by this plasmid. The resulting fusion is a gene fusion of bovine IL2 to the 5'-end of the IktA gene (approximately 750 bp) .

Example 2 Measurement of IL2 Activity

Cell-free lysates were prepared by detergent lysis from EL coli carrying pAA356 and an isogenic strain carrying the pGH433 vector without IL2-LKT. The IL2-LKT molecule was evident on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. IL2 activity was measured using an IL2- dependent T-cell line derived from concanavalin-A- stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The recombinant lysates were added to IL2-dependent cells and proliferation was measured after 48 hours incubation at 37°C. The proliferative response to IL2 was compared to T lymphocytes cultured in medium alone or cells stimulated with recombinant human IL2 (specific activity = 3.6 x 106 U/mg) . Recombinant leukotoxin without IL2
was also included as a control. The results, shown in Table l, confirm the IL2 activity of the fusion protein.

Thus, it is evident that the chimeric protein retains IL2 cell proliferative activity.

Example 3 Serological Response to P. haemolytica LKT and the IL2-LKT Chimeric Molecule To test whether the serological activity of the chimeric molecule differed from the serological activity of leukotoxin alone, the following experiment was done.

Calves (three per group) were immunized at time 0 with 100 μg of: (1) full-length recombinant P. haemolytica leukotoxin (LKT) , (2) an equivalent molar ratio of the IL2-LKT chimeric protein, or (3) PBS. All of these were formulated in phosphate-buffered saline
with Emulsigen as the adjuvant. Serological assessment of immune responsiveness to LKT or the chimera was carried out at -15, -7, -3 days and immediately prior to immunization on day 0, and daily for 20 days post- immunization. Serum antibody of the IgG class was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using leukotoxin as the antigen.

As can be seen in Figures 4A-4C, the mean of individual serological titers in the nonimmunized group (Figure 4A) remained at levels below 1/32 (log2 5) . One of the three calves in this group seroconverted to leukotoxin positive at day 20 because of natural infection with P_s. haemolytica. In the LKT-immunized group (4B) , titers began to rise at day 6 after immunization, reaching a maximum (1/1024 - 1/8192; log2 10-14) on day 8-10, where they remained for the duration of the experiment. In the chimera-immunized animals (4C) , responses to LKT began to rise after day 4 postimmunization, reaching a maximum (1/1024 - 1/4096 log2 10-12) on day 8 after immunization.

Thus, the serological activity of the chimeric molecule when compared to the activity of leukotoxin alone was not significantly different, both with respect to kinetics and magnitude. Serum antibody from one animal in the leukotoxin immunized group appeared to react with leukotoxin prior to immunization (with titers > 1/128; log2 7), and while it is unlikely that this animal suffered a P_s. haemolytica infection, serum antibodies against another bacterial toxin could be cross-reacting with leukotoxin. The conclusion from this experiment is that when IL2 is genetically chimerized to the leukotoxin molecule, it does not affect the ability of the LKT to induce a normal IgG antibody response when
compared to the administration of recombinant leukotoxin alone.

Example 4 Immunization of Calves with LKT and the IL2-LKT Chimeric Molecule Calves were immunized at time 0 according to the protocols in Table 2. 117 micrograms of IL2-LKT were given (molar equivalent) and 100 micrograms of LKT given (molar equivalent) .

TABLE 2 Calf mun z t n P otocols

LKT refers to full-length leukotoxin.

IL2-LKT refers to LKT chimerized to bovine IL2.

In multiple-dose regimes, five doses were given at 12 h intervals over 2.5 days.

1. Precursor Frequency Analysis.

The number of cells capable of responding to LKT following immunization was assessed using limiting dilution analysis (LDA) . At the times indicated following immunization, T and B lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood by passing through Sephadex G-10 columns. Monocyte depletion was confirmed by flow cytometry. This cell population was diluted to various concentrations (10 5 to 102/ml) and added to 96-well
plates in the presence of feeder cells (autologous 1500 rad irradiated PBMC) and antigen (LKT) at a previously determined optimal concentration (20 μg/ml) . In some experiments, cells were stimulated with IL2-LKT (LKT356) or an equimolar concentration of IL2. Following incubation at 37°C for 5 to 7 days, H-thymidine was added to wells and cultures were harvested after an additional 24 hours incubation, counted and the percent negative cultures assessed following comparison with control cultures (i.e., cells cultured in the absence of antigen) . Semi-Log10 plots were done of Log1Q Percent negative cultures (Y) against number of cells plated (X) . The number of cells responding at 37% negative cultures was calculated from an equation derived from the regression curve of Y versus X.

As can be seen in Figure 5, the chimerization of LKT to IL2 does not affect the ability of PBMC to respond to the IL2 component of the molecule. Furthermore, precursor frequency analysis of cells responding to LKT or IL2-LKT yielded the following results: After immunization with LKT or IL2-LKT, with or without the adjuvant Emulsigen-plus, there was a dramatic increase in the number of cells responding to LKT. Following a single immunizing dose of IL2-LKT with Emulsigen-plus, there was no detectable increase in precursor frequency (Table 3).

2. SeroJ-ogy.

Serum from the immunized calves was assessed for antibodies against LKT at the times indicated in Table 3. LKT antibodies were detected using standard ELISAs.

All animals showed an increased antibody titer against LKT following immunization. Increases were more
marked in those animals given Emulsigen-plus in the formulation. Specifically, animals immunized with the chimera had a titer of 1/700 15 days after immunization, whereas when the same immunization was done with Emulsigen-plus, the titer was 1/35,000. Furthermore, even following one dose of IL2-LKT with Emulsigen-plus, the serological titer was 1/2500 (Table 3) .

M: multiple dose regimen; S: single bolus dose.

Adjuvant given with all doses. ***High values at time 0 may indicate a prior infection or x-reactivity. cTime following first inoculation.

Precursor frequency of B and T cells proliferating in response to LKT. eSerology determined by ELISA using LKT as antigen.

Thus, this study demonstrated the ability of LKT and IL2- LKT formulations to elicit cellular and humoral immunity responses following single or multiple immunization. When Emulsigen-plus was used as an adjuvant, there was a high serological response. This was regardless of
whether LKT or IL2-LKT was given as a single or multiple immunization regimen. The single dose inoculum gave a high humoral response (antibody titer) in the near absence of any detectable cellular response. The animal that elicited the highest cellular response after immunization was that which was given IL2-LKT alone. Thus, IL2-LKT can elicit the highest state of cellular reactivity. A higher humoral response can also be elicited by combining the chimeric protein with an adjuvant.

Example 5 Identification of Neutralizing Epitopes of Leukotoxin The P_s_ haemolytica leukotoxin protein contains a series of repeated amino acid domains near the carboxy terminus. These domains are likely to be epitopes useful in the subject chimeric proteins. The consensus amino acid sequence is Gly-Gly-X-Gly-X-Asp, where X is Lys, Asp, Val or Asn. (Highlander et al. (1989) βNA.1:15-28.) However, other substitutions likely to render immuno- logically active peptides include substitutions with an aliphatic amino acid, such as Gly, Ala, Val, Leu, lie, a charged amino acid such as Asp, Glu, Arg, His or Lys, or a corresponding neutral amino acid such as Asn or Gin.

Based on this information, a synthetic peptide of the sequence GGNGDDFIDGGKGNDLLHGG was constructed by standard solid phase technology on an Applied Biosystems peptide synthesizer. Mice were immunized with authentic leukotoxins prepared from either PL haemolytica. or Actinobacillus p1europneumoniae (serotypes 1 and 5) at 100 micrograms per dose with Freund's Complete Adjuvant (first vaccination) or Freund's Incomplete Adjuvant (all subsequent vaccinations) . High titer serum samples from
immunized mice were tested, in a standard ELISA, for the following: (1) their ability to react with recombinant and authentic £ haemolytica leukotoxin; (2) their ability to react with the toxin produced by A. pleuropneumoniae: and (3) their ability to react with the synthetic peptide described above. The results, summarized in Table 2, are expressed as the relative reactivity at a serum dilution of 1 in 100,000.

This data indicated that animals vaccinated with either of the three leukotoxins developed antibodies which reacted with all toxins and a synthetic peptide based on a portion of the P haemolytica toxin. Once an appropriate level of anti-peptide serum antibody was reached (ELISA titer of 100,000 or greater), spleen cells were fused with NS1 cells and monoclonal antibody-producing clones were isolated by standard
techniques. Culture supernatants from these clones were tested for their ability to react with the synthetic peptide (above) and the respective toxins in an ELISA assay. The results for 2 clones are shown in Table 5.

These results demonstrate that each of these monoclonal antibodies react with an epitope which is shared by the PL haemolytica and A^ plauropneumoniae toxins, and that this epitope is structurally similar to that of the synthetic peptide. This peptide is also structurally similar to a bovine rotavirus synthetic peptide of the sequence TMNGNEFQTGGIGNLPIRNWNAC, representing amino acids 40-60 of the VP6 protein. The monoclonal antibodies described above can therefore be used to determine the degree of their cross-reactivity with rotavirus proteins based on the epitope represented by the synthetic peptides. Furthermore, the immunologically active leukotoxin fragments might prove useful in immunizing against rotavirus.
These leukotoxin epitopes can be fused to cytokines such as IL2, or active fragments thereof, to form chimeric proteins for use in vaccine compositions. Thus, chimeric proteins for use in stimulating immunity against pneumonia and other respiratory diseases have been disclosed. Although preferred embodiments of the subject invention have been described in some detail, it is understood that obvious variations can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims :

1. A DNA construct comprising a first nucleotide sequence encoding a cytokine, or an active fragment thereof, operably linked to a second nucleotide sequence encoding at least one epitope of leukotoxin.

2. The DNA construct of claim 1 wherein said first nucleotide sequence encodes interleukin-2 (IL2), or an active fragment thereof.

3. The DNA construct of claim 2 wherein said IL2 is bovine IL2, or an active fragment thereof.

5. The DNA construct of claim 1 wherein said at least one epitope of leukotoxin comprises the amino acid sequence G-G-X-G-X-D, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amino acid, and a charged amino acid or its corresponding neutral amino acid.

6. The DNA construct of claim 5 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of K, D, V, and N.

7. The DNA construct of claim 1 wherein said at least one epitope of leukotoxin comprises the amino acid sequence GGNGDDFIDGGKGNDLLHGG.

8. An expression cassette comprised of:

(a) the DNA construct of claim 1; and

(b) control sequences that direct the transcription of said construct whereby said construct can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

9. An expression cassette comprised of:

(a) the DNA construct of claim 4; and 0 (b) control sequences that direct the transcription said construct whereby said construct can be transcribed and translated in a host cell.

10. Plasmid pAA356 (ATCC no. 68386). 5

11. A host cell stably transformed with the expression cassette of claim 8.

21. The chimeric protein of claim 17 wherein said at least one epitope of leukotoxin comprises the amino acid sequence G-G-X-G-X-D, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amino acid, and a charged amino acid or its corresponding neutral amino acid.

5

22. The chimeric protein of claim 21 wherein X is selected from the group consisting of K, D, V, and N.

23. The chimeric protein of claim 17 wherein 10 said at least one epitope of leukotoxin comprises the amino acid sequence GGNGDDFIDGGKGNDLLHGG.

24. A vaccine composition comprising the chimeric protein of claim 17 and a pharmaceutically

-5 acceptable vehicle.

25. A vaccine composition comprising the chimeric protein of claim 20 and a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle.

20

26. The vaccine composition of claim 24 wherein said chimeric protein is linked to carrier.

27. The vaccine composition of claim 25

25 wherein said chimeric protein is linked to a carrier.

28. The vaccine composition of claim 26 wherein said carrier is substantially homologous to a rotavirus VP6 inner capsid protein or a functional

30 fragment thereof.

29. The vaccine composition of claim 27 wherein said carrier is substantially homologous to a